The Link Between Terrorism and Religion? (2)
June 2nd 2010 00:44
Terrorism is not new phenomenon; in fact its roots can be traced as far back as the first-century B.C.E when Jewish zealots began a program of murder to oust the Roman oppressors. Modern day terrorism is generally agreed to have begun during the French Revolution (Cronin 2002/3, p.34). What has changed leading into the twenty-first century is the emergence of the ‘jihad era’ (p.38), product of the Iranian Revolution of ’79 and defeat of the Soviets in Afghanistan.
From the killing fields of the opium-state rose Osama bin Laden, leader of Al-Qaeda and soon to be avowed enemy of the West. What makes this wealthy Saudi different from other religious extremists is the organisation he has created, not a defined central entity but a nexus of cells operating from within target countries (Gunaratna 2007, [CD]). This web-like structure, coupled with support from states sympathetic to the jihad, is what makes Al-Qaeda so difficult to counter.
In a broadcast message on October 7 after the 9/11 attacks, bin Laden hints at the reasoning behind his jihad [ Click here to read more ]
From the killing fields of the opium-state rose Osama bin Laden, leader of Al-Qaeda and soon to be avowed enemy of the West. What makes this wealthy Saudi different from other religious extremists is the organisation he has created, not a defined central entity but a nexus of cells operating from within target countries (Gunaratna 2007, [CD]). This web-like structure, coupled with support from states sympathetic to the jihad, is what makes Al-Qaeda so difficult to counter.
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